Migraine sufferers miss out at work (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Migraine sufferers miss out at work

MIGRAINE sufferers across the town could be missing out on job opportunities because of their condition.

More than 3,000 people responded to a poll by charity alliance Headache UK, which aims to highlight problems sufferers can have at work.

The survey claims more than half of migraine sufferers believe their career has been affected by their condition.

Nine per cent said they had been subjected to disciplinary action due to forced absences.

Others said they kept their headaches secret to avoid discrimination.

The chairman of the charity, Ann Turner, said the figures were shocking.

"We heard of employers who don't believe a sufferer is sick, of people not being promoted and others suffering extreme stress in the workplace because of their condition," she said.

There are two types of migraine. The common migraine is an intense, throbbing headache, often on one side of the head with two or more of the following symptoms nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to either light, sound or smell.

Pain is made worse by movement and sufferers want to lie down in a quiet, darkened room.

The other type is the classical migraine. This has the same symptoms as the common migraine, but sufferers can also have neurological disturbances lasting from 15 minutes up to an hour, before the headache starts. These can include blind spots, flashing lights, zigzag patterns in vision and pins and needles.

One Swindon worker has suffered from classical migraines for 12 years. The woman, who asked not to be named, works in an office in Old Town.

And she agrees with the survey's findings that some people don't believe sufferers.

"Some are more sympathetic than others, " she said."I know when it's a migraine. It is awful."

Minimising migraines

Migraines affect one in eight people in the UK

They affect more than twice as many women as men

Migraines cost the UK around £1bn each year

The World Health Organisation has classified headache as a major health disorder. It rated migraines among the top 20 of the most disabling lifetime conditions

About 60 per cent of sufferers never consult their GP because they believe nothing can be done for them

Sufferers can help by:

Keeping a diary to help identify trigger factors

Eating regularly to keep blood levels stable

Drinking water and reducing caffeine and alcohol intake

Taking regular breaks from repetitive work or using a VDU

Varying position during the day to avoid stiffness and tension

Maintaining a regular sleep pattern

Getting fresh air and exercise everyday

Stephanie Tye